Cases for one or several laser discs and means for classifying same

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns cases for one or several laser discs, designed to protect solely the recorded side of one or several CD&#39;s to be housed either against at least a wall against which they are elastically clipped on a centring element internally, or externally. When they house two CD&#39;s on a single centring element, their recorded side is pressed one against the other with or without interleaf. A case can receive and immobilise additionally to a CD (D), a tag (E) bearing complementary data concerning the CD, transparently seen through the wall ( 1 ) against which is pressed the recorded side of the CD to be housed and protected, by means of a conical inner surface ( 5 ) retaining the tag through the base of the cone, and whereof the outside ( 6 ) is square, hexagonal or octagonal. Said cases are preferably made of a relatively flexible transparent plastic material. The disc is unclipped by pressing the thumb on the middle of the centring element while simultaneously exerting a flexure with the tip of the finger on the rear side of the periphery of the case.

[0001] The invention relates to cases for single and multiple laserdisks (“compact disk, audio CD, CDR, CDRW, CD ROM, DVD”) and means fororganizing such disks, which are referred to hereinafter as CDs.

[0002] There are already known CD boxes and similar devices made ofrigid plastic material of the polycarbonate type to house from one tothree CDs. These boxes for recorded audio CDs, CD ROMs and DVDs comprisea box with a pivoted cover. Some versions are several mm thick, with anattached piece embedded in the box, while thinner versions with athickness of about 3 mm comprise merely a box and a cover intended tohouse and center the CD.

[0003] They suffer from the following disadvantages:

[0004] fragility of the hinge, fragility of the teeth for centering theCD, fragility of the faces of the box; these various elements breakingeasily during handling;

[0005] complexity of the three component parts to be manufactured andassembled for the thickest versions;

[0006] considerable bulkiness of the box, ranging from thicknesses of 10mm for the most common to 3 mm for the thinnest, compared with thethickness of the CD, which is about 1 mm, thus requiring large widthsfor organization in upright orientation and preventing any other type oforganization;

[0007] considerable weight of the box compared with that of the CD to beprotected;

[0008] handling complexity and difficulties due to the snap-on cover, sothat they are neither practical nor rapid for access to the CD, all themore so in the case of double CDs;

[0009] the current organizers are cumbersome and not very practical; theCDs must be introduced into unclosed sleeves, from which they can slipout during handling of pages, their accessibility is poor and therecorded face rubs against the corresponding surface of the sleeve;

[0010] the zipper closure of these organizers is not very manageableafter it has been opened, because it must spread apart to an anglesufficient to permit manipulation of the pages;

[0011] the boxes are cumbersome, poorly manageable and bulky; it isdifficult to stack them vertically.

[0012] The problems to be solved to alleviate these variousdisadvantages are as follows:

[0013] to simplify the manipulations for access to the single or doubleCD and for replacement of same in their box, with one hand;

[0014] to protect adequately the recorded face of the CD or of doubleCDs;

[0015] to increase the mechanical strength of the box;

[0016] to reduce the bulkiness of the box in thickness, so that manymore CDs can be stored in the same volume than is possible with existingboxes;

[0017] to reduce the bulkiness of double CD or DVD boxes in thicknesswhile facilitating access thereto and storage of same after use;

[0018] to make the case lighter in order to reduce mailing costs;

[0019] to be able to stock and organized large numbers of CDs in astorage means that is not very bulky and is easy to handle andtransport;

[0020] to reduce the manufacturing cost;

[0021] to be able to store large numbers of disks in boxes andorganizers having separate trays, without exerting friction on thesupport tray and without the risk that disks will slide out of theorganizer during handling, remaining very easily accessible.

[0022] The inventive laser disk cases solve all of the stated problems.As regards the stated problem, it was recognized that only the recordedface of the CDs has to be protected, while the other face has no suchneed.

[0023] A first and simplest version of the inventive case, for housing asingle CD, reduces to one thin wall provided with a centering means ontowhich the CD is snapped by its central hole, the CD face to be protectedbeing placed against the corresponding surface of the case.

[0024] In a second version to permit the cases to be stacked or to bestored in upright orientation on shelves or in the boxes, there has beenprovided a peripheral external shoulder on the wall of the case, whoseinternal face, which is conical or provided with pins, is capable ofretaining a cardboard label engaged elastically in the cone retainingit, the recorded face of the CD being braced against the label, whichcan be read through the transparent wall of the case, the other face,containing information, remaining readable directly by virtue of theabsence of a cover. To make the case lighter, the outer shape of theshoulder is octagonal, ensuring that it is stably braced in uprightorientation. The case is made of semi-rigid transparent plasticmaterial, which can easily deform by being flexed and which is notsensitive to impacts. The multiple-CD versions of the inventive casesare derived directly from the simple case.

[0025] In a third version of the two-CD case, the centering means of thecase is designed such that two CDs can be snapped on with their recordedfaces against one another, with or without intermediate tray. Theircentering means is designed such that both of these CDs can be snappedon simultaneously, the thickness of the centering means being less thanthat of the case wall in order to make it more “elastic”, while thebearing surface for snapping on the CDs is slightly conical and has anintroductory chamfer.

[0026] According to a fourth version of the CD cases, their wall isprovided with one centering means on one side and one centering means onthe other side, each housing one CD, and their periphery is providedwith a shoulder disposed on both sides of the said wall, whose externalshape is square, hexagonal or octagonal.

[0027] According to a fifth version of the CD cases, for housing two CDswith their recorded faces against one another with or withoutintermediate member, the CDs are centered and held in place by the outerperiphery of the diameter of the CDs, on an internal bearing surfacebounded either by two projections, which may have divided structure, orby one projection and one stop.

[0028] According to a sixth version of the CD cases, they are eachdesigned to house, fix in position and protect two CDs with theirrecorded faces against one another, with or without intermediate member,engaged by their central hole on an elastically deformable, annularfixation hub, provided either with two retaining projections or with oneprojection and one stop.

[0029] According to a seventh version of the CD cases, they are eachdesigned to house, fix in position and protect two CDs with theirrecorded faces against one another, with or without intermediate member,engaged by their central hole on an elastically deformable, annularfixation hub, comprising two parts snapped together by additionalsnap-on means; their hub is provided with a support foot for storage inupright orientation, the base of the foot having a width equal to thatof an octagonal edge.

[0030] According to an eighth version of the CD cases, they are eachmade in two parts of hexagonal or octagonal shouldered outer shape witha conical bearing face to retain a label, in that these two parts aremutually pivoted by an integrally molded flexible joint and are keptclosed together by pegs engaged in corresponding holes of the otherpart, the centering means, which are integral with the interior of theirrespective wall, each fixing one CD in position.

[0031] According to a ninth version of the CD cases, they are each madein two parts mutually pivoted by an integrally molded flexible joint,one part housing two CDs and the other housing a single CD and possiblya booklet, the two CDs being snapped onto the same centering means andthe other being snapped onto a centering means for a single CD.

[0032] According to a tenth version of the CD cases, they are each madein two identical parts mutually pivoted by an integrally molded flexiblejoint, each housing two CDs, the CDs being snapped on in pairs, withrecorded faces against one another, on a corresponding centering means.

[0033] According to an eleventh version of the CD cases, they are eachmade in two parts mutually pivoted by an integrally molded flexiblejoint, one housing two CDs snapped on with recorded faces against oneanother, on a corresponding centering means, while the other wall is notprovided with a centering means, in order that it can house a booklet.

[0034] According to a twelfth version of the CD cases, they are eachprovided with a thin identification label of plastic material engaged ina groove cut in the side of one of the edges of the case, in thatadditional identification by CD families is provided in the form of rodsof one, two or even three colors, engaged in a hole sunk partly into theside of face 6 of an edge of the case.

[0035] According to a thirteenth version of the CD cases, theircentering means has a thickness of the bracing wall for the recordedface of the CD or DVD that is reduced by at least half, in that itssnap-on shoulder is slightly conical to allow it to deform elasticallyduring insertion of the CD.

[0036] According to a fourteenth version of the CD cases, theircentering means is designed to house two CDs with their recorded facesagainst one another, its cone is longer and the thickness of its wall isreduced by half compared with that of the bracing wall. If the casehouses one or two CDs on the other side of its wall, the secondcentering means is heat-sealed opposite the first.

[0037] According to a fifteenth version of the CD cases, their centeringmeans is designed to house one CD, and it is made flexible by dividingup the surface of the snap-on cone by openings, while leaving a centeron which the unsnapping pressure is exerted.

[0038] According to a sixteenth version of the CD cases, their centeringmeans is provided with an elastomeric ring, which is attached by bondingto its shoulder and which has a diameter very slightly larger than thatof the central hole of the CDs, so as to create a gentle retainingpressure thereon, in that ejection is achieved by pushing, throughholes, on the rear of the bracing face of the CDs.

[0039] According to a seventeenth version of the CD cases, theircentering-and-ejecting means is designed mainly to house a DVD laserdisk wherein, in addition to the centering means, there are addedelastically deformable ejection means intended to raise the CD bypressing on the middle of the centering means via at least three smallstuds or balls of flexible elastomer, bonded to the bottom ofcorresponding seats, whose rim is flared to permit the said studs to bepressed flat when the DVD or CD is snapped onto the shoulder of thecentering means. Alternatively, ejection of the DVD can be achieved bymeans of at least three integrally molded prongs or, for example, metalprongs engaged in a groove and bonded in place.

[0040] According to an eighteenth version of the CD cases, they arestocked in boxes that permit storage in upright or slightly inclinedorientation, the shape of their section corresponds to that of thecases, preferably octagonal, in that it comprises two half parts, ofwhich the lower is opaque or translucent and the upper is transparent,equipped with additional means for snapping onto one another, and whoseends are closed and, for snapping onto other boxes, are provided on theoutside with male means on one side and female means on the other. Thecases can be inclined by about 15°, either by providing play between theexterior of the cases and the interior of the box, or by modifying theangle of the lower edges.

[0041] According to a nineteenth version of the CD cases, they have theform of thin and flexible storage trays, for two, four or eight CDs,made of transparent plastic material, provided with oppositely disposedheat-sealed top and bottom spacer plates, with which they can beheat-sealed as a package and, beyond a space that permits bending forbrowsing purposes, provided with longitudinal and transverse top andbottom stiffening plates that define the positions of the CDs, which areeach snapped onto oppositely disposed heat-sealed centering means, thecentering means being provided with a thin wall bordered along itsperiphery by a slightly conical snap-on bearing surface whose diameterpermits light clamping on the central hole of the CDs and with a smallintroductory chamfer, milled portions making the teeth elasticallydeformable to facilitate snap-on action, their heat-sealing to the traybeing effected on the central part.

[0042] According to a twentieth version of the CD cases, the storagetrays are heat-sealed as a package onto their spacer plates and in anorganizer of thermoplastic material comprising a base having a thicknessof 1.5 to at least 2 mm, a back integral with the base via an integrallymolded hinge, a cover integral with the back (142) via a second hinge;it is closed by a front part joined to the base via another integrallymolded hinge; a strip of sturdy fabric, bonded to the front part, isprovided at its free end with a strip of “scratch” material, which canbe fixed securely to another “scratch” strip by pressing the coveragainst the upper tray.

[0043] The advantages of the inventive cases compared with existingcases are the following:

[0044] very great simplification of manufacture;

[0045] very great simplification and speed of handling, access to the CDsuch that it can be removed with one hand by virtue of the absence of acover in most models; this removal is achieved by light pressure on thecentering means and periphery of the case;

[0046] inexpensive to manufacture—a single piece for all cases withoutcovers;

[0047] extremely sturdy, unbreakable;

[0048] very light, even with several CDs; can be mailed in a normalenvelope at very low cost;

[0049] very small space requirement in thickness—2.5 to 3 mm for 1 CDand 8 mm for four CDs, in contrast to 24 mm for 3 CDs in the traditionalboxes;

[0050] in preferably octagonal shape it can be positioned in uprightorientation;

[0051] it can be stacked and is provided with a small nesting flange orshoulder to prevent any lateral slippage in a stack;

[0052] because of the absence of a cover, the inscriptions on the CD aredirectly accessible and, since the other side is translucent, a labelcontaining written information about the contents of the CD can be read,

[0053] easy and secure organization on thin and flexible trays equippedwith centering means that maintain their position while different pagesare being browsed;

[0054] storage in very simple boxes that do not require much space andcan be stacked end-to-end in upright or horizontal orientation.

[0055] The invention is described in detail in the text providedhereinafter with regard to the attached drawings, which are given by wayof non-limitative examples and wherein:

[0056]FIG. 1 shows an example of the simplest non-stackable inventivecase, viewed in section;

[0057]FIG. 2 shows an example of the simplest stackable inventive case,viewed in section;

[0058]FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example of a simple case that can house andfix in position a label, against which there is braced the CD to behoused and protected;

[0059]FIGS. 5 and 6 show examples of vertical, flat stacking of simplecases;

[0060]FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of a case that houses two CDs suchthat they are centered by their outer periphery, with their recordedfaces against one another;

[0061]FIGS. 9 and 10 show two examples of simplified cases comprising asimple centering means housing two CDs with their recorded faces againstone another;

[0062]FIG. 11 shows a simplified case comprising a simple two-partcentering means housing two CDs with their recorded faces against oneanother;

[0063]FIGS. 12 and 13 show any one of the cases of FIGS. 9 to 11equipped with a support foot for storage in upright orientation;

[0064]FIGS. 14 and 15 show an example of an open double case viewed fromabove and in section;

[0065]FIGS. 16, 17, 17A and 17B show examples of identification of theCDs;

[0066]FIGS. 18 and 19 show examples of simple cases for housing two andfour CDs;

[0067]FIGS. 20 and 21 show examples of double cases for housing three orfour CDs;

[0068]FIG. 22 shows an example of a CD centering means;

[0069]FIGS. 23A and 23B show examples of CD centering and ejectionmeans, viewed in section;

[0070] FIGS. 24 to 26 show examples of CD centering means;

[0071]FIGS. 27 and 28 show an example of a CD storage box that can beplaced flat or in upright orientation;

[0072]FIG. 29 shows an example, in section, of a tray for flat storageof 2, 4 or 8 CDs;

[0073]FIG. 30 shows an example, in section, of a CD centering means ontrays for flat storage of CDs according to FIG. 29;

[0074]FIG. 31 shows an example, viewed from above, of the tray for flatstorage of CDs according to FIG. 29;

[0075]FIG. 32 shows an example of trays for flat storage, heat-sealedtogether as a package on an organizer.

[0076]FIG. 1 shows the simplest example of an inventive non-stackablecase, viewed in section. It has a thin wall 1 of square, hexagonal oroctagonal shape, slightly larger than the diameter 2 of CD D to behoused on a centering means C, the recorded face being braced againstwall 1 which protects it, a cover being considered to be superfluous,since the non-recorded face is not fragile.

[0077]FIG. 2 shows, in section, the simplest example of an inventivecase that is vertically stackable, on a shoulder 3 whose inner peripheryleaves a slight space relative to diameter 2 of the CD and whoseexternal shape 4 is square, hexagonal or octagonal.

[0078]FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example of a simple case that is also ableto house and fix in position a label E containing additional informationabout the CD, visible through transparent wall 1, against which therecorded face of CD D to be housed and protected is braced by means of aconical internal face 5, which retains the periphery of the label by thebase of the cone, the exterior 6 of the case being of square, hexagonalor preferably octagonal shape. These cases are preferably made ofrelatively flexible, transparent plastic material. Unsnapping isachieved by pressing the thumb on the middle of the centering means andsimultaneously applying a flexing action with the fingertips on the rearside of the periphery of the case.

[0079]FIGS. 5 and 6 show examples of flat vertical stacking of simplecases according to FIGS. 3 and 4, by virtue of a shoulder 8 or of aflange 9 engaged in the top region 10 of conical face 5.

[0080]FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of a simplified case 14 for housingtwo CDs 15, 16 with recorded faces against one another, with or withoutintermediate tray, centered and fixed in position by their exterior on acase whose outer shape 6 is square, hexagonal or octagonal. This case isnot provided with a wall for protecting the CDs, since the recordedfaces thereof are braced against one another and thus mutually protectone another. The CDs are fixed in position on this case by forcing themelastically over a very small snap-on projection 17 or 18 depending onthe side of introduction (right part of the section). At the left partof the section there is shown a stop shoulder 19 that cooperates withprojection 17. The partial diagram in FIG. 8 shows that retainingprojections 17 and 18 can be divided into a plurality of parts tofacilitate snapping on of the CDs.

[0081]FIGS. 9 and 10 show two examples of simplified cases comprising asimple centering means 20 (FIG. 9) and 21 (FIG. 10) for housing two CDs22, 23 with their recorded faces against one another, with or withoutintermediate tray. As for the cases of FIG. 7, the CDs are snapped on bybeing forced over a projection 24 or 25, which can be divided up foreasier snap-on action. Both case 20 and case 21 have a central hole 26for weight reduction. In FIG. 10, snap-on projection 24 is replaced by ashoulder 27, against which CD 22 is braced.

[0082]FIG. 11 shows another example of a simplified case 30 comprising asimple two-part centering means 31, 32 for housing two CDs 22, 23 withtheir recorded faces against one another. Centering means 31 cooperateswith an annular piece 33 via additional snap-on means 34, 35 forretaining the CDs, which are precisely engaged on the centering meanswith very slight play.

[0083]FIGS. 12 and 13 show any one of the cases of FIGS. 9 to 11equipped with a Support foot 38, for designed storage in uprightorientation and provided with a bracing base 39 having the width of oneedge of the octagon of FIG. 3.

[0084]FIGS. 14 and 15 show an example of an open double case 40 viewedfrom above (FIG. 14) and in section (FIG. 15). The two parts 41, 42 ofthe case, having octagonal outer shape 6 and each housing a CD snappedonto its centering means C, are joined together along one of their edgesby an integrally molded hinge 43, which makes it possible to close themby means of pegs 44 cooperating with snap-in holes 45.

[0085]FIGS. 16, 17, 17A and 17B show examples of marking of the CDs. Athin label 48 of plastic material is engaged in a groove 49 cut into theside of one of the edges 50 of the case for the purpose of organizationin upright orientation. This label can contain personalizedorganizational information. FIGS. 17A and 17B show an additional exampleof identification by CD family, comprising rods 52 of one, two or threecolors, engaged in a hole 53 sunk partly into the side 54 of face 6 ofan edge of the case.

[0086]FIGS. 18 and 19 show examples of simple cases 57 and 58 forhousing two and four CDs. FIG. 18 shows an example of a case 57 designedto house one CD D1 and one CD D2 on each side of its wall 59, eachsnapped onto a corresponding centering means C1, C2. It is provided witha double shoulder 60, which does not have to be conical if labels arenot used because they will not be visible. If one label is used per CD,it contains additional information on the contents of the CD, the maininformation contained on the non-recorded faces being outwardly visible.FIG. 19 shows an example of a simple case 58 housing, on each side ofits wall 64, two CDs, whose recorded faces are braced against oneanother with or without interposed label. Their centering means C3, C4are slightly longer than centering means C1, C2, so that two CDs can besnapped on simultaneously. They are unsnapped in the same way as for theother cases. The thickness of double shoulder 65 is the same as that ofthe centering means, thus allowing them to be stored in uprightorientation or stacked vertically.

[0087]FIGS. 20 and 21 show examples of double cases 68, 69 for housingthree or four CDs. These cases are analogous to those of FIGS. 14 and15. FIG. 20 shows an example of a double case with three CDs D1, D2 andD3, wherein two (D1, D2) are on the left part 71 and one (D3) is on theright part 72. Shoulder 70 of left part 71 has greater thickness, whichis slightly larger than that of centering means C3 for housing two CDsas well as that of right part 72, which houses only one CD. The twoparts 71 are pivoted on an integrally molded flexible hinge 43. Part 72can house a label against its wall, and part 71 can house anintermediate member between the two CDs. The non-recorded faces of thethree CDs are visible, one outwardly and the two others when the case isopened.

[0088]FIG. 21 shows a double case 69 with two symmetric parts 71, 75,each housing two CDs D1, D2 and D3, D4 with recorded faces against oneanother, the four non-recorded faces bearing information being visibleoutside through transparency and inside when the case is opened.

[0089] FIGS. 22 to 26 show examples of CD centering means viewed insection. FIG. 22 shows an example of centering means 78. The thickness79 of the bracing wall for the recorded face of the CD or DVD is reducedby at least half 80 at the centering means, in order to make itelastically deformable. Snap-on shoulder 81 is slightly conical, so thatit can deform elastically when a CD is inserted. When the middle of thecentering means is pressed in the direction of arrow 82, the walldeforms as shown by dotted lines 83, with the effect of reducing thediameter of shoulder 81. If an inverse flexing action is simultaneouslyproduced on the outside of the case, the CD is released from itscentering means. Second centering means 84, identical to the first, isattached by heat sealing opposite the first at 85.

[0090]FIGS. 23A and 23B show an example of a case withcentering-and-ejection means designed mainly to house a laser disk ofthe DVD type. It is provided with the same centering means as that ofFIG. 22, to which there is added elastically deformable ejection meansintended to lift the CD when the middle of the centering means ispressed. This ejection can be achieved in several ways, either by meansof three small studs 85 of flexible elastomer, bonded to the bottom ofcorresponding seats 86, whose rim is flared to permit the said studs tobe pressed flat when the DVD or CD is snapped onto shoulder 81 of thecentering means. The free end of studs 85 is hemispherical and of thesame height as that of the centering means, either by replacing studs 85by elastomeric balls B (FIG. 23B) adhered onto correspondingindentations; or else by means of at least three integrally moldedprongs (right side of FIGS. 23A and 23B) or, for example, metal prongs Lengaged in a groove and bonded (FIG. 23B). By pressing on middle 82 ofthe centering means while the case is placed flat on a table, studs 85,the balls or prongs 87 lift up and release the DVD from its centeringmeans.

[0091]FIG. 24 shows another example of centering means 88 for housingtwo CDs D1, D2 with their recorded faces against one another. Its shapeis similar to that of the centering means of FIG. 22, but it is higherso that it can house and retain two CDs instead of one, while cone 89has a slightly smaller slope. The two CDs are unsnapped in the same wayas on FIG. 22. To house one or two additional CDs on the other face ofwall 1, a centering means 90 for one or two CDs is heat-sealed oppositethe first.

[0092]FIG. 25 shows another example of centering means 92 for one CD; itis made flexible by dividing up surface 93 of the snap-on cone byopenings 94, while leaving a center 95 on which the unsnapping pressureis exerted. To house 2 CDs, the height of the centering means isincreased by the thickness of one CD. As for the other models ofcentering means, a second centering means can be heat-sealed to theother face of the case.

[0093]FIG. 26 shows another example of centering means 98 on shoulder99, to which there is attached by bonding a ring 100 of elastomer with adiameter very slightly larger than that of the central hole of the CDs,in order to create a slight retaining pressure thereon. Ejection isachieved by pushing on the rear of the bracing face of the CD, throughholes 101.

[0094]FIGS. 27 and 28 show an example of a box for storage of CDs inupright or slightly inclined orientation. These boxes can be placed flator in upright orientation. The shape of the section of the boxcorresponds to that of the cases, preferably octagonal. It comprises twohalf parts, lower part 110 being opaque or translucent and upper part111 being transparent. The two half parts 110, 111 are equipped withadditional means 112 for snapping onto one another. The two ends of thetwo half parts are closed and, for snapping onto other boxes, areprovided on the outside with male means 113 on one side and female means114 on the other side.

[0095] To ensure that the CDs can be browsed visually in the absence ofmarkings, it is possible to incline the cases by about 15°, either byallowing play between the outside of the cases and the inside of thebox, or by slightly increasing the angle 115, 116 of the edges.

[0096]FIGS. 29 and 30 show a section in elevation viewed from above ofan example of a thin and flexible tray for flat storage of 2, 4 or 8CDs. This tray 118, of transparent plastic material, is provided withoppositely disposed heat-sealed top and bottom spacer plates 120, 121,with which the said trays can be heat-sealed as a package (FIG. 31), aspace 119 that permits bending for browsing and heat-sealed top andbottom stiffening plates disposed longitudinally 123, 124, 125 andtransversely 126, 127, 128, defining the CD positions. As shown insection in FIG. 30, each CD is snapped onto a centering means 130,heat-sealed in opposite position above and below the tray. It isprovided with a thin wall 131 bordered at its periphery by a slightlyconical snap-on bearing surface 132 having a diameter that permitssufficient clamping effect for retention on the central hole of the CDsand with a small introductory chamfer 133. Milled portions 134 make theteeth 135 elastically deformable to facilitate snap-on action.Heat-sealing to the tray is performed exclusively on central part 136,in order to conserve the flexibility of the snap-on teeth.

[0097]FIG. 31 shows an example of flat storage trays 118 heat-sealed asa package on an organizer 140 of thermoplastic material comprising abase 141 with a thickness of 1.5 to at least 2 mm, a back 142 integralwith the base via an integrally molded hinge 143, and a cover 144integral with back 142 via a second hinge 145. The organizer is closedby a front part 146 joined to the base by another integrally moldedhinge 147. A strip 148 of sturdy fabric, bonded to front part 146, isprovided at its free end with a strip 149 of “scratch” material, whichcan be fixed securely to another “scratch” strip 150 by pressing cover144 against top tray 118, thus shielding the collection of CDs fromdust. The organizer of plastic material can be covered by decorativefabric.

1. Cases for single and multiple laser disks snapped elastically ontoone or more centering means, characterized in that they are designed toprotect only the recorded face of one or more CDs to be housed, snappedon and braced firmly against a thin coverless wall of the said cases, topermit handling and transport of the said CDs without the risk ofscratching or losing same, in that the said wall (1) is rigid andequipped with a peripheral shoulder (3) of octagonal shape.
 2. CD casesaccording to claim 1, provided with a thin wall equipped with acentering means, characterized in that their shoulder (3) is provided onthe inside with a conical bearing surface or with a bearing surfacehaving pins (5), in that they are made of relatively flexible plasticmaterial to permit them to be unsnapped by pressing the thumb on themiddle of the centering means and simultaneously applying a flexingaction with the fingertips on the rear side of the periphery of thecase.
 3. CD cases according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in thatthey are made stackable by means of a bearing surface (8) or a flange(9) engaging with the end of the cone (10) of the preceding case,preventing them from slipping laterally out of the stack.
 4. CD casesaccording to one of the preceding claims, provided with a rigid wall(59) equipped with one centering means (C1) on one side and with onecentering means (C2) on the other side, each for housing a CD (D1, D2),characterized in that their periphery is provided with a shoulder (60)disposed on each side of the wall (59), whose outer shape is polygonal.5. CD cases according to claim 1, characterized in that they aredesigned to house two CDs with their recorded faces against one another,with or without intermediate tray, in that they are centered and held inplace by the outer periphery of the diameter of the CDs, on an internalbearing surface bounded either by two projections (17, 18), which mayhave divided structure, or by one projection (17) and one stop (19). 6.CD cases according to claim 1, characterized in that they are designedto house, fix in position and protect two CDs with their recorded facesagainst one another, with or without intermediate tray, the CDs beingengaged by their central hole on an elastically deformable, annularfixation hub (20, 21), provided either with two retaining projections(24, 25) or with one projection (25) and one stop (27) and with acentral hole (26).
 7. CD cases according to claim 1, characterized inthat they are each designed to house, fix in position and protect twoCDs with their recorded faces against one another, with or withoutintermediate tray, the CDs being engaged by their central hole on anelastically deformable, annular fixation hub, comprising two parts (27,32) snapped together by additional snap-on means (33, 34).
 8. CD casesaccording to claims 1, 6 and 7, characterized in that their hub (20,21-27, 32) is prolonged by an upright support foot (38, FIG. 13) forstorage thereof in upright orientation, the base (39) of the foot havinga width equal to that of an octagonal edge (3, FIG. 14).
 9. Double casesaccording to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that they comprisetwo identical simple cases (41, 42) (FIGS. 3, 4), provided with anoctagonal peripheral shoulder (3, 6), mutually pivoted by a flexiblejoint (43, FIG. 20) integrally molded on one of the octagonal edges and,for handling, closed with additional molded closure means (44, 45),their CD-centering means each being disposed on the inside of the saidcases.
 10. Double cases according to claim 9, characterized in that, ofthe two simple cases (71, 72, FIG. 20), provided with an octagonalperipheral shoulder (3, 6), mutually pivoted by a flexible joint (43)integrally molded on one of the octagonal edges and, for handling,closed with additional molded closure means (44, 45), one is equippedwith a centering means (C3, 88) for housing two CDs on the inside of thesaid cases, and the second with a centering means (C1, 78, 92, 98) forhousing a single CD and possibly a booklet, or else no centering meansand only a booklet.
 11. Double cases according to one of claims 9 and10, characterized in that each of the two identical simple cases (71,75) (FIG. 21), provided with an octagonal peripheral shoulder (3, 6),mutually pivoted by a flexible joint (43) integrally molded on one ofthe octagonal edges and, for handling, closed with additional moldedclosure means (44, 45), is equipped with a centering means (C3, 88) forhousing two CDs, each centering means being disposed on the inside ofthe said cases.
 12. CD cases according to one of the preceding claims,characterized in that they are each provided with a thin identificationlabel (48) of plastic material engaged in a groove (49) cut in the sideof one of the edges (50) of the case, in that additional identificationby CD families is provided in the form of rods (52) of one, two or threecolors, engaged in a hole (53) sunk partly into the side (54) of theface (6) of an edge of the cases.
 13. CD cases according to one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that their centering means (88) isdesigned to house two CDs (D1, D2) with their recorded faces against oneanother, is provided with a cone (89) that is longer than the thicknessof two CDs, and its thickness is reduced compared with that of thebracing wall (1).
 14. CD cases according to one of the preceding claims,characterized in that their centering means (98) is provided with anelastomeric ring (100), which is attached by bonding to its shoulder(99) and which has a diameter very slightly larger than that of thecentral hole of the CDs, so as to create a gentle retaining pressure onthe CD, in that ejection is achieved by pushing, through holes (101), onthe rear of the bracing face of the CDs.
 15. CD cases according to oneof the preceding claims, characterized in that theirentering-and-ejecting means is designed mainly to house a DVD laserdisk, characterized in that there are added ejection means comprisingthree small studs (85, FIG. 23A) of flexible elastomer, bonded to thebottom of corresponding seats (86), whose rim is flared to permit thesaid studs to be pressed flat when the DVD or CD is snapped onto theshoulder (81) of the centering means, in that the free end of the studs(85) is hemispherical and of the same height as that of the centeringmeans.
 16. CD cases according to one of the preceding claims,characterized in that ejection of the DVD from its centering means isachieved by means of small balls (B) of elastomer (FIG. 23B) adheredonto corresponding indentations.
 17. CD cases according to one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that ejection of the DVD from itscentering means is achieved by means of three metal prongs (L) eachengaged in a corresponding groove and bonded in place (FIG. 23B).
 18. CDcases according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that,when they house one or two CDs on their second face in addition to thator those housed on their first face, the second centering means isattached by heat sealing in a position opposite the first centeringmeans (FIG. 22, 24).
 19. CD cases according to one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that they are stocked in upright or slightlyinclined orientation in storage boxes, the shape of whose sectioncorresponds to that of the outer shape of the cases, preferablyoctagonal, in that it comprises two half parts, of which the lower (110)is opaque or translucent and the upper (111) is transparent, which areeach equipped with additional means (112) for snapping onto one another,and whose ends are closed and, for snapping onto other boxes, areprovided on the outside with male means (113) on one side and femalemeans on the other (114), in that the cases can be inclined by about15°, either by providing play between the exterior of the cases and theinterior of the box, or by slightly increasing the angle (115, 116) ofthe lower sides of the box.
 20. CD cases according to one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that they have the form of thin andflexible storage trays (118), for two, four or eight CDs, which are madeof transparent plastic material, which are provided with oppositelydisposed heat-sealed top and bottom spacer plates (120, 121), with whichthe said trays can be heat-sealed as a package, with a space (119) thatpermits bending for browsing purposes, and with heat-sealed top andbottom stiffening plates that are disposed longitudinally (123, 124,125) and transversely (126, 127, 128), defining the positions of theCDs, which are each snapped onto oppositely disposed heat-sealedcentering means (130), in that the said centering means are providedwith a thin wall (131) bordered along its periphery by a slightlyconical snap-on bearing surface (132) with a small introductory chamfer(133), whose diameter permits light clamping on the central hole of theCDs, milled portions (134) making the teeth (135) elastically deformableto facilitate snap-on action, their heat-sealing to the flexible traybeing effected on the central part (136).
 21. CD cases according toclaim 21, characterized in that the CD storage trays (118) areheat-sealed as a package onto their spacers (121, 122).
 22. CD casesaccording to one of claims 21 and 22, characterized in that the CDstorage trays (118) are heat-sealed as a package in an organizer (140)of thermoplastic material comprising a base (141) having a thickness of1.5 to at least 2 mm, a back (142) integral with the base via anintegrally molded hinge (143), a cover (144) integral with the base(142) via a second flexible hinge (145), in that it is closed by a frontpart (146) joined to the base via another integrally molded flexiblehinge (147), in that a flexible strip (148) of sturdy fabric, bonded tothe front part (146), is provided at its free end with a strip (149) of“scratch” material, which can be fixed securely to another “scratch”strip (150) by pressing the cover (144) against the top tray (118).